Apparatus for stripping molds



5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY L. J. MOELLER APPARATUS FOR STRIPPING MOLDSBYGQhC.

sept. 1.5, 1959 Filed Nov.

Sept. 15, 1959 J. MOELLER APPARATUS FOR STRIPPING Moms 5 Sheets-Sheet 2v ASK Filed Nov. 22, 1957 INVENTOR. L. J Moran? CLC. ATTORNEY .lli

Sept- 15, 1959 l.. J. MoELLl-:R v 2,903,738

APPARATUS FOR STRIPPING MOLDS Filed Nov. 22, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIGSYCLC.

4 TTORNEV Sept.r15, 1959 Y L.. J. MoELLER 2,903,738

APPARATUS FOR STRIPPING MoLDs Filed Nov. 22. 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG.5

Las

INVTOA L. J. MOEL L ER BYCZ'Cl ATTORNEY Sept. 15, 1959 L J. MOELLER2,903,738

APPm'rUsy FOR STRIPPING MOLDS Filed Nov. 22, 1957 5 sheets-sheet 511s/VENT@ I.. J. MOE L L ER BY..C.

A 7' TORNEV United States Patent O APPARATUS FOR STRIPPING MOLDS LowellI. Moeller, Indianapolis, Ind., assignor to Western Electric Company,Incorporated, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York ApplicationNovember 22, 1957, Serial No. 698,093

5 Claims. (Cl. 18-2) This invention relates to apparatus for strippingmolds, and more particularly, although not exclusively, to strippingapparatus for separating a plurality of portions of molds and removingmolded products therefrom.

In the manufacture of certain cast resin terminal strips which areutilized in the communications industry, a plurality of rows of spacedterminals are embedded partially in a flat rectangular block of castresin with the ends of the terminals projecting from opposing sidesthereof. The cast resin block is molded about the terminals which arepositioned in a composite mold made up of two complementary interlockingrnold halves. After the cast resin has become hardened by curing, it isnecessary to separate the mold halves from the finished cast resinterminal strip without damaging the terminal strip.

An object of the invention is to provide improved apparatus forstripping'molded articles `of manufacture by separating sections of themold from each other and for supporting the article during its removalfrom the sections of the mold.

A more specific object of the present invention is to cast resinterminal strip 13, Fig. 6, similar to those disclosed in Patent No.2,711,818, granted to P. Ruttkay on .lune 28, 1955. The rnold halves 11and 12 are illustrated in Fig. 4 in their most contiguous lockedposition prior to the stripping operation. The stripping operationseparates the mold halves 11 and 12 to release the finished cast resinterminal strip 13. The mold halves 11 and 12 each consists of an annularmember 14, a flat plate 15 and a substantially inverted U-shaped member16. The U-shaped members 16-16 may be secured to the associated plates15-15, or may be one piece positioned between or secured to one of thetwo separable mold sections 11 and 12.

The mold stripping apparatus includes two sets of slidably movable jaws17-17 and 18--18 having projecting portions 19-19 which are designed toengage projecting portions 21-21 of the mold halves 11 and 12 containingthe finished terminal strip 13. The jaws 17-17 and 18-18 have verticallyextending dovetailed tongues 22-22 which are secured in verticallyextending dovetailed grooves 23-23 in horizontally slidable members24-24. The horizontally slidable members 24-24 have dovetailedprojections 26-26 for mounting the members 24-24 in correspondingdovetailed slideways 27-27 in members 28--28 secured rigidly to a baseplate 29 by appropriate means 31 (see Fig. 2).

Compression springs 32-32 (see Figs. l and 3) are utilized to urge thejaws 17--17 and 18-18 toward each other and are positioned between theopposing sides of the jaws 17-17 and 18-18 and stop members 33-33secured rigidly to the members 28-28 adjacent to the provide apparatusfor stripping articles of manufacture from component parts of molds andsupporting the articles of .manufacture during the stripping operation.

A still yfurther object of the present invention is to provide apparatusfor stripping articles of manufacture from molds, which are durable,simple in construction, and efficient in operation.

vTo accomplish the above and other objects of the invention a moldstripping apparatus may include backing plates engaging the ends ofterminals extending from the molded article through apertures inseparable mold sections, means for separating the mold sections, andfurcated supportmeans reciprocable into position between the moldsections for supporting the molded article during and afterv its removalfrom the mold.

Other objects and features of the invention will be more readilyunderstood from the following detailed description of a specificembodiment thereof when read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, top plan view of a specific embodiment of amold stripping apparatus illustrating certain features of the invention;

Fig.A 2 is a fragmentary, sectional view of the apparatus of Fig. l:taken along line'2-2 thereof;

Figi?, is a fragmentary, sectional view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 takenalong line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, sectional View of the apparatus of Fig. l takenalong line 4 4 thereof;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, sectional view of the apparatus of Fig. l takenalong line 5-5 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 6 is an exploded view of a segmental mold and molded article. 1 t

Referring now to the drawings wherein the same numeral designates likeor similar elements throughout the several views, .a mold, designatedgenerally by the numeral 10 consisting `of two halves, ydesignatedgenerally by the numerals 11 and 12 is illustrated with a finishedopposing ends of the slideways 27-27. One end `of cach of the springs32-32 is positioned in a bore 34 in the associated stop members 33 andthe opposing end of each of the springs 32-*32 is positioned in a bore36 in the associated slidable member 24 (see Fig. 3).

The mold 10 with the finished cast resin terminal strip 13 therein, ispositioned in the mold stripping apparatus on the base plate 29 with themovable jaws 17-17 and 13--18 positioned between the mold halves 11 and12. A horizontally, reciprocable guard hood 37 is supported slidably onrollers .2S-25 by angle irons 30-30 to cover up or expose the workingparts of the apparatus above the base plate 29. The closure of the hood37 closes a switch 38 which results in the energization of asolenoidoperated valve (not shown) to direct fluid to pistoncylinderassemblies 39 and 41, associated with backing plates 4Z and 43,respectively, to actuate the pistoncylinder assemblies 39 and 41. Theactuation of the piston-cylinder assemblies 39 and 41 reciprocate thebacking plates 42 and 43 into associated depressions 44 and 46 in theopposing sides of the mold halves 11 and 12, respectively (see Fig. 4),and into contact with a plurality of rows of spaced terminals 47-47.

The terminals 47-47 are embedded partially into a flat, rectangularblock 4S of cast resin and project through apertures 49-49 in the moldhalves 11 and 12. The ends of the rows of terminals 47-47 may terminatein the same plane thus resulting in the necessity of providing a atsurface 51 on each of the backing plates 42 and 43. However, the ends ofthe terminals 4'7-47 on some of the terminal strips 13 may projectfurther than other terminals 4'7-47 resulting in the necessity ofproviding the surface 51 of each of the backing plates 42 and 43 with anirregular contour.

The backing plates 42 and 43 are supported and guided partially by rods52-52, Figs. l and 4, which reciprocate in bearing blocks 53-53.Switches 54-54 are secured to the bearing blocks 53-S3 and provided tobe actuated by feeler members or actuators 56-56, secured adjustably tothe free ends of the rods 52-S2, at the end of inward travel of thebacking plates 42 and 43. The

escapes 3 actuation of the switches 544-54, in turn, results in theenergization of-a solenoid-operated valve (not shown) to direct fluid toa iluid actuated piston-cylinder assembly, designated generally bythenumeral 57, Figs. 3 and 5,' to actuate generallytriangular-'shaped'reciprocal cam members 5,8 and 59'." i' "'J The lcammembers 58 and 59 are attached to a yoke 61 by rod 'members "62 and 63,respectively, thelattero'f which are guided'by bearing blocks' 60'-60.'The cam members' 58 'and 5,9' are secured between bifurcations, in theends of therod members 6,2 and 63, by'approp'riat'e means 64, Fig'. 3.Eachfofthe'rods'Z and 63'are positioned reciproicably between'theslidable members 24-24 in V-shape'd slots 6 6 therein.' The cam'rnembers'58 and 59Hare reciprocated vertically lby the rods 62 'an'd'63,`"respectively, in apertures '65"-65' in'the base'pla'te '29 and in slots67-67 in the horizontally 4slilab'le 'members 24T24. The ammgngsu'rfaeslss-46s ofthe can mmbers5v8 and 5 9'Abe'ar against ifo'tatingcarnfollowers V69-"69 ecnredin elongatedlslotsl67-v67 in the members 244424,

The yoke 61, in turn, is reciprocated vertically by means of a bellcrank assembly,vdesigna`ted generallyby the .numeral 71, formed of alever 72, lteyed't'ol a shaft 7 3, and twolevers 7a4 and 7 6, keyedtotheoppo'sing'ends of the shaft 73. The bell crank .assembly 71" isactuated by the piston-cylinder assembly 57 'through a linkage 77connected tothe piston ,rod 78 and linkages 79;;79, secured to opposingysides o'f the yoke '61,' to causethe ca m members `3"8 ,and v59 to bepulled down between thejaws 177-117 and 1,8-18, respectively, to movethe' mold halves t1\1' 'and12 Vapart while'maintaining the faces thereofparallel, spaced relationship. K

.1X-switch `81 is provided to actuate asolenoid-actuated valveassociated with a fluidsupply to a piston-cylinder assembly, designatedgenerally by the numerall 82, when the cam members y5,8 and 5 9 havecaused the die halves 11 andlZto reach' a predetermined position so'that the ends of the terminals are flush with the inside surface of thedepressions44 and 46 formed by the outside surface of the plate 15e-15.'The switchl is Vactuated by an arcuate-shaped memberS secured rigidly tothe `shaft 73.

The actuation of the piston-cylinder assemblyvSZ causes vertically,reciprocableilcoulh 'lesigned .gellallymby the .numerals 83 and.84 .tomove.1,1pwar 1,l.y tolsupprvtand `cradle .the ,terminal strip 1,3.during" the .renialidfbf the Stripping' operation, vand 'during 'and'.a'fter the' strip 1 3 Vis released4 from' the ,mold halves' 11 and 12.

' The individual. vertical rows `of' terminals 47-,47 on thel terminalstrip ,1 3`are received within vertical slots .S6-.8,6 in the .combs 83and .8,4 forming the teeth 87- 87 ,of the combs, so 'that' the terminal,strip.`13 is `cradled.theretly fand prevented 'rom..drl5l9i1lg.yi/.116,11 the mold halve's11` and 12.',liave been stripped' completelytherefrgm... The' 'combs..83 (and .-8.4 are securedrigidly to ablockmember' 88 whicli, li'n turn,- issfecured remvably to afi/:oke memherltby rod portions. .9"1--491Y projecting from'f'the blockl memberiiintotcorresponding ztap'ertiire's 924-92. The .rd projections.,9l91each" haifle La transverse, arcuateshapedV slot'. .93 `in 'theAsigle thereofy designed `for reception'.of:aboltmemberflE for lockingtheprojectioils `91,-'.,91 in placegin ,yolgeulembeiii .The yoflte-l`einberf) "is, secured t' la' threadedend nof V.the 4piston rdd96 and isp ed Arby` bearing hloeksfs97f'397 secured) `:slidabiy torovdsffg. 'l Av A l switch 101, Fig.2, isprovided to. be actuated `by an adjustablescrew 102 in an L-'shapedmernber Esecured rigidlyto.,the.ba1ingl.b1ock,97,:whenthe cgmbs,83 and Sreachthe `vof theirupwardhstrole. 'The actuation of the switch 1 .results .in thevenergization of :the solenoi c'tafeayal've seiaawith 'tiresnppiy bfnuidartesanias? aan@ Siwa-armer pf @ad to sth@ assaulted?.assembles @92.1151041 tsaittd with the baskingPlat$..;l2..a1d. l3l. ReFtYQlY-.-z'lte i piston-cylinder assemblies and. 41 associated with the backingplates 42 and 43, respectively, are of the springreturn type and thusmove the backing plates 42 and 43 out of the path of travel of the diehalves 11 and 12. The movement of the backing plates 42 and 43 allowsthe cams 58 and 59 to complete their downward strokes to move the diehalves 11 and l1 2 apart far enough to release the terminal Strip .13theffromf" A switch"106 is provided tb be actuated by an arcuateshapedmember secured ri 'dly to the shaft y173. When the Cams 'aud .'5...9'.[Satef .a Pzfdeff' mined position to actuate the switchmlll; aldoperated valve (not showen) is energized to revers'e`the the supplyAof iiia tothepistdnfcyiinder assierniiy Sz. The reversal of the pistonthe `assembly 82 causes the combs 83 and 84 `and finished castresin`terminal strip 13 to be lowered. The movement of the combs 83 and84 to a downward position causes an L-Vshaped plate member l10? secured'tdthelbldcl'( '97 to actuate'a'switch'1'09. The'actuation'of the switch109 'results in the opening of the valve assoeiated with the assembly 57'to reverse the ow offlu'id 'to 'the p'istn-'cyliride'r assembly 57 tocause the cams' 5,8."and59it`oE reciprocate 'to their' uppermostposition. The rrloverrientwofA the'cam's ,58' and S9-'to"the initial'start' 'ositio'n" results# in 'the 'actuation' of a latch'ssociatedftheguard hood 37 whichperinits the operatortomremoyethe'itnished cast resinterminal stripi13 and thefmold -sections Hand-,12 from the 'moldstripping apparatuvsand' prepare the lapparatus 'for 'a' subsequent#nieuwe far f The operator places the mold 1,0 with separable s ectipns'11 and' 12in plage gewebe@ 2.9 Wifhthf' mplted terminalStriptlthsrqhetusnhpierfor'ltlien mves the guard. hood v.3.7 in PlQePY?!1h?, .@PSQ 1.11,@- ing parts of the strippinggapparatus. The movement'of the guard hood 37 to a closed position actuates vtl'iesylitc'h 38which results 4inthe .ellergization of lthe 'solenoidoperat'ed.valvebetween Va lud ,supply Iand the'pistoncylinder assemblies .39 and41, associated vtheubatl'zlr- 'ing plates .42 and 43. Ifhefluid is.directed to the'as'semblies 39 and 41 to move the faces 51--51of.thebaclting plates `42 and143 against the associated, opposing ends ofthe` terminals .47447. AAftera predeterminedZtravel of the backingplates 42 and 43,the ,switchesS-ugt are a'ctu'atedby 'the' adjustableactuators l,S6-T516secured to theends'o'f the rods.52'.52. 'The'actuation of the switches -54--54 results in .the energization'of .thesolenoidoperated valve 'to apply fluid pressure to the pistonecylinderassembly 57 `associated'with the 'cam m'er'nberslSS and 59. ,TheVvasseinbly 57, through'theassociated 'linkages .7.7 and v,'19 :and theassembly 7,1, pulls lthe cam members .58 andv 5,9 'downward'lg untilvthe inside surfaces .forming the `concayitles 44?.k 11646; G11-"the"opposing Sides of .the moid;ha1ve s, 11 and '12, "respectively, engagethe surfaces.S1-,5 1 oflthe backing plates 42"and;43.' ".Whenthe moldhalves1,14and 12:'a`re p'ushed'ag'ainst'the backing plates' 42 and43;',the assemblies 39 and'.41, associated'fwith the. backing plates 4-2and 43, uprevent the"cam"members' 58 and.59 .'from 'seitig' able toroyce 'the rmaidhaves` .1i and 12 :further apart at this time. Theswitch 81 is" .then actuated to energi'ze'the solenoid-actuatedvalve'associated with the uid supply 'to the, piston-cylinderassembly82,associ- 'ated with the comb members-83 and 84K' The actuation offthepiston-'cylinder assembly -82resul'ts 'in' l'the' reciprocatiox'o'ffthefcoinb members -83V Aand S4 to la position'wherein the 'rows''of terminals 47-*- f47 'are' nested between 4the furcation's formingthe teeth 87--87 of the comb members 83 and 84 tonest th terminal stripy13"be'twee1'1 the' combs 83 and'-8.4. ',When mb' members 83andt'are'rnoved upwardly'a arce. .the .Su/'itch '.10 9iS. ctetd- WMIquentin bythe Onward msivement of the comb members 83 and 84, willresult in the actuation of the solenoid-operated valve associated withthe pistn-cylinder assembly 57 and the solenoid associated with thelatch which permits movement of the guard hood 37.

When the combs 83 and 84 have reached the end of their upward stroke theswitch 101 is actuated which results in the de-energization of thesolenoid-operated valve to shut off the iluid supply to thepiston-cylinder assemblies 39 and 41 which permits the spring-returnpiston to move the backing plates 42 and 43 out of contact with the endsof the terminals 47-47 to allow the cam members 58 and 59 to completetheir downward stroke. The movement of the cam members 58 and 59downwardly results in the movement of the die halves 11 and 12 inopposite directions, away from each other, to free the terminal strip 13from the die halves 11 and l2 and removes the terminals 47-47 from theapertures 4949 therein.

When the cam members 58 and 59 reach the end of the downward stroke, theswitch 106 is actuated which results in the energization of thesolenoid-operated valve to discontinue the supply of fluid pressure onone side of the piston of the piston-cylinder assembly 82 and to applyfluid pressure to the opposing side of the piston to move the combmembers 83 and 84 in a downward direction. When the comb members 83 and84 reach the bottom of the stroke, the switch 109 is actuated which, inturn, results in de-energization of the solenoidoperated valve whichremoves the fluid pressure from one side of the piston in the assembly57 and directs uid to the opposite side of the piston resulting in thereturn of the cam members 58 and 59 to the upward and starting position.

The actuation of the switch 109 also resulted in the de-energization ofthe latch solenoid to allow the hood 37 to be opened. When the operatoropens the hood 37 to remove the terminal strip 13 from the strippingapparatus the switch 3S is actuated resulting in the removal of power tothe control circuit (not shown) which results in the de-energization ofall solenoids in preparation for a subsequent stripping operation. Theterminal strip 13 and the die halves 11 and 12 are removed then from theapparatus by the operator in preparation for a subsequent strippingoperation.

lt is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are simplyillustrative of the application of the principles of the invention.Other arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art which willembody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit andscope thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. Mold stripping apparatus for removing molded articles from moldsconsisting in a unitary assembly of a pair of separable mold sectionshaving apertures in the faces thereof, with a molded article formed inand positioned between the separable mold sections with rows ofterminals extending from the molded article through the apertures in theseparable mold sections, which comprises backing plates engaging theends of the terminals extending through the apertures in the moldsections, means for holding the backing plates against the ends of theterminals during a portion of the mold stripping operation, means formoving said mold sections in opposite directions into engagement withsaid backing plates and for holding them in a spaced relationship withthe faces thereof in a parallel relationship, furcated support means,means for reciprocating said support means into position to support themolded article with the furcations of the support means positionedbetween the rows of the terminals and on opposite sides of the moldedarticle, and means for causing the backing plates to move in oppositedirections away from the ends of the terminals to permit saidmold-section moving means to cause further movement of the mold sectionsaway from each other and thereby removal of the terminals extending fromthe article from the aperi tures in the mold sections and removal of themolded article from the separable sections of the mold.

2. Mold stripping apparatus for removing moldedv articles from moldsconsisting in a unitary assembly of a pair of separable mold sectionshaving apertures Vin into concavities on opposing sides of the separablemoldy sections, which comprises a base plate upon which the l moldsections are supported for relative sliding movement, backing plateswith a peripheral shape complementary to the concavities in the moldsections engaging the ends of the terminals extending through theapertures in the mold sections, means for holding the backing platesagainst the ends of the terminals during a portion of the mold strippingoperation, means for sliding said mold sections in opposite directionson said base plate with the surfaces of the concavities in engagementwith said backing plates and for holding them in a spaced relationshipwith the faces thereof in a parallel relationship, furcated supportmeans, means for reciprocating said support means into position tosupport the molded article with the furcations of the support meanspositioned between the rows of the terminals and onV opposite sides ofthe molded article, and means for causing the backing plates to move inopposite directions away from the ends of the terminals to permit saidmold section sliding means to cause further movement of the moldsections away from each other and thereby removal of the terminalsextending from the article from the apertures in the mold sections andremoval of the molded article from the separable sections of the mold.

3. Mold stripping apparatus for removing molded articles from moldsconsisting in a unitary assembly of a pair of separable mold sectionshaving apertures in the faces thereof with a molded article formed inand positioned between the separable mold sections with rows ofterminals extending from the molded article through the apertures in theseparable mold sections, which comprises Ia base plate upon which themold sections are supported for relative sliding movement, backingplates engaging the ends of the terminals extending through theapertures in the mold sections, means for holding the backing platesagainst the ends of the terminals during a portion of the mold strippingoperation, reciprocating cam means for sliding said mold sections inopposite directions on said base plate into engagement with said backingplates and for holding them in a spaced relationship with the facesthereof in a parallel relationship, furcated support means formingspaced parallel comb members, means for reciprocating said support meansinto position to support the molded article with the furcations formingthe teeth of the combs of the support means positioned between the rowsof the terminals and the combs on opposite `sides of the molded article,and means for causing the backing plates to move in opposite directionsaway from the ends of the terminals to permit said cam means to causefurther movement of the mold sections away from each other and therebyremoval of the terminals extending from the article from the aperturesin the mold sections and removal of the molded article from theseparable sections of the mold.

4. Mold stripping apparatus for removing molded articles from moldsconsisting in a unitary assembly of a pair of separable mold sectionshaving apertures in the faces thereof with a molded article formed inand positioned between the separable mold sections with rows ofterminals of varying lengths extending from the molded article throughthe apertures in the separable mold sections, which comprises backingplates engaging the ends supported for relative sliding movement,backing plates enggiiigue'eas"ofthltemtmals amending/through theaprjturs'fi tir mbl-d ,setins'means-"for holding thebaeklig'platesk'agaist'tle Aejtids of th'eterm'inals during aportioofl'the m'ld 'strippig`op'eration;`:means for lsliding said moldsections in opposite directions on said baseplatef'iiito'f'engagementwith" said backingpltes aid forholdlinlg'vth'eii'ri spaced relationship'with the" faces therzef`in`'parllel relationship; fu-'cated support means, meansor'rc'pijo'catiig said support me'ansinto position tds'pp'r'tftlei'olded'aticlevvith the furcati'ons'of the slipportnerilsps'itionedbetive'en"tHeroWs ofthe terminais" anc'lf'lriioppsit sides of"the moldedl article, 'and means' f'orc'ausiiig the bakin'gp'lates'tm'ovexinfopposite dire tio's awv'tr'rtrtheends dftlie terminals topermit said` nld-setionslidiig `means: to 'cause' further movementffth'emold scti'ori's'v a'v'v'ay from" each Eother and thereby:rriovalfot"th"te1niinals"extending from 'the artile frm'lthf aperturesinfth'e moldsections and removal of the molded article from theseparable sections

